Since moving house in 1993, I have been unable to establish a permanent 2m set up and as a result my operating from home has mainly been HF based. For many years my log book contained contact after contact with faceless individuals that I would probably never speak to again, let alone meet.
When I started SOTA activating in February 2006, the first thing that I noticed was the friendliness that existed amongst participants, both activators and chasers. It reminded me of when I started in amateur radio back in 1969 on 2m AM, when I used to speak to lots of amateurs on a regular basis and I met many of them at rallies and other events. I enjoyed this aspect of amateur radio every bit as much as making the contacts.
Fast forward to April 2023 and the joint activation of Upper Park GW/MW-032 arranged by Ben GM4BML. There amongst other individuals, I met Kevin MW0KXN for the first time. We got chatting about GW completion, both as an activator and a chaser. Kevin kindly offered to activate a summit that I needed to chase, Mynydd Machen GW/SW-030 which is not that far from his home QTH. I must admit that I forgot about this until we met again at the GW Hog Roast in June 2025. Once again Kevin kindly offered to activate the summit and with its demise from the SOTA scheme approaching, after several emails a date was arranged - Monday,16th February 2026,
Having a high noise level on HF at my home QTH, I decided the best way to virtually guarantee making contact with Kevin, I would head out to a quiet local high spot south of my QTH across the River Nene valley. I set off from home at 11:30z, only to find my preferred route blocked by a police car. After a quick turn around and a drive eastwards on the A45, I found the alternative route across the valley also closed. I therefore drove on to the next exit off the A45 and, with time slipping by, on impulse decided to try a location adjacent to the Earl Barton ROC bunker (BOTA B/G-0611), a location that I had reconnoitered back in 2023, but had never operated from.
Earls Barton ROC Bunker
I set up in a small pull off very close to the bunker and set up the 40m end fed half wave. A convenient tree allowed me to prop the pole in the branches, with a bush providing additional support. As it was raining, I sat in my car with my IC-703 and soon found Kevin operating 40m CW. The Complete was in the log in quick order, with a promise from me to look for Kevin when he got onto SSB. I then decided to activate the bunker. 60 contacts in 50 minutes on 40m SSB later, with an extremely well behaved pile up behind me, I found myself free to look for Kevin. After a few calls, another contact with him was in the log.
My shack for the chase. End fed from the pole leaning into the tree.
Activation area complete with its own skip… give me a damp muddy summit any day.
At the risk of causing embarrassment, I would sincerely like to thank Kevin for his generosity in taking the time to activate Mynydd Machen. Such friendship deserves mention and for me is something that I value greatly. Of course Kevin is not the only person involved with SOTA who, over the years, has gone the extra mile for me. Being part of the SOTA family has certainly enriched my experience of radio and of life, which is particularly appreciated in view of the issues that I have faced over the past year and a bit.
Many thanks SOTA friends. I hope to be back on the hills as soon as I am able. .
73, Gerald
